So it's not just him, but an ongoing function in his world. Of course, he could be talking about classes for the sake of learning an art. But given what he'd said to her--good enough to be afraid--somehow she doubts that's the case. "The program I was in was a little more rigorous," she says, turning the tanbo over her fingers once before offering it back to him, taking her own baton back in turn when it's offered. "We didn't get much of a choice as far as weapons training went."

The followup question is just as casual and offhanded, as though she has no investment in the answer. As though they're talking about the weather. "How old were you when you started?"